Health Reform

Three leading House Republicans — Education and Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, and Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton — say they have a plan in case the Supreme Court rules that health reform subsidies are no longer available to people buying federal marketplace coverage.

Like the recent proposal from three Senate Republicans, this latest “plan” is very vague, but what we know about it strongly suggests that it would make coverage much less affordable, particularly for people who are older or in poorer health. Read more

Food Assistance

SNAP has played a central role in largely eliminating severe hunger and malnutrition in the United States. At the end of 2014, SNAP was helping more than 46 million low-income Americans to afford a nutritionally adequate diet.

Eligible people who apply can receive benefits, and when poverty and need increase, the program expands. Then when the economy grows robustly again, the program contracts. This enables SNAP to respond quickly and effectively during times of economic downturn and increased need. Read more